Civic-tech organization BudgIT has raised alarm over legacy issues in the proposed 2025 Federal Government Budget under President Bola Tinubu. The group urged the National Assembly to address irregularities, exercise fiscal responsibility, and ensure public participation in the budget review process to prioritize job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive economic growth.
Nancy Odimegwu, BudgIT’s Communications Associate, highlighted the government’s consistent failure to meet macroeconomic assumptions in recent years. She warned that these discrepancies pose serious fiscal risks, exacerbate budget financing challenges, and contribute to rising public debt.
Missing Budget Details for Key Agencies
BudgIT criticized the omission of detailed breakdowns for several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the proposed budget. Among the omissions are the National Judicial Council’s ₦341.63 billion allocation and Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s ₦940.5 billion. Additionally, the budgets of over 60 Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs), including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), were conspicuously absent.
N2.49 Trillion for Regional Commissions Raises Red Flags
A combined allocation of ₦2.49 trillion for five regional development commissions—including ₦776.53 billion for the Niger Delta and ₦498.40 billion for the South West—was flagged for being classified under personnel costs. BudgIT argued that this obscures operational expenses and hinders transparency.
“For context, the Ministry of Interior, overseeing major agencies like the Nigeria Immigration Service and Civil Defence Corps, has a much smaller recurrent non-debt allocation of ₦648.84 billion for personnel and overhead costs,” Odimegwu noted. She called the lump-sum allocations for regional commissions a barrier to proper scrutiny and accountability.
Omission of Lagos-Calabar Highway Funding
BudgIT also criticized the absence of funding for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, a major capital-intensive project. The organization warned that its exclusion implies funds may be diverted from other critical projects if the highway’s financing materializes, undermining the budget’s credibility.
Retirement Benefits for Generals Contradict Cost-Cutting Promises
BudgIT expressed concern over President Tinubu’s proposed retirement package for military generals, which includes a bulletproof SUV, foreign medical treatment, $20,000 for medical trips, and domestic help allowances. The organization noted that such benefits inflate the budget, widen the fiscal deficit, and could demoralize lower-ranking personnel who lack adequate health insurance and retirement benefits.
Call for Legislative Oversight
Odimegwu appealed to the 360 House of Representatives members and 109 senators to prioritize the national interest. “The approved budget should stimulate economic activities, promote stability, allocate resources equitably, and cater to Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations,” she urged.
BudgIT emphasized the need for a transparent and inclusive budget process to ensure resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to address Nigeria’s pressing developmental challenges.
